Feral Hogs Cause Damage in Irving, Texas

Feral hogs in Texas are causing significant disruption, with reports of packs of up to ten pigs damaging lawns and rummaging through trash in suburban neighborhoods like Irving. These invasive species are responsible for an estimated $400 million in damages annually in Texas alone, contributing to a national total of about $1.5 billion. Local residents have resorted to makeshift measures to deter the pigs while waiting for city officials, who have hired a contractor to address the issue. Additionally, the rapid reproduction rate of feral hogs exacerbates the problem, as a sow can produce multiple litters each year. In Saskatchewan, concerns are growing about the potential spread of feral pigs, originally introduced for agriculture, which have created a hybrid known as the “superpig.” Experts warn that without effective management strategies, the situation may worsen in both Texas and Canada.